Seven senators arrogantly decided to put millions of dollars in federal highway funding at risk so mayors can continue to close routed roads.

Sens. Rory Respicio, Tony Ada, Frank Blas Jr., Mana Silva Taijeron and Aline Yamashita voted against Bill 443, which would have removed the authority of mayors to close routed roads. Sens. Chris Duenas and Sam Mabini each passed three times, which counted as "no" votes. With seven votes for and seven votes against, the bill didn't pass.

The Department of Public Works highlighted several problems with legislation introduced earlier this year to allow mayors to close roads in their villages, including routed roads paid for with federal funds, notably that it would put those funds at risk. The Legislature ignored the warning and passed the bill, and then-acting Gov. Ray Tenorio signed it into law.

Soon after, the Federal Highway Administration wrote and said the law conflicts with the stewardship agreement it has with Public Works. Giving mayors power to close roads paid for and maintained by federal highway funds violates the commitment made by the local government that routed roads be devoted "exclusively to public highway purposes."

Joanne Brown, director of Public Works, said the law puts almost $20 million in federal funding for roads at risk, plus approximately $100 million in federal money for ongoing projects.

But following the vote on Bill 443, Respicio said there's no proof the Federal Highway Administration will withhold federal funds.

Apparently, a warning letter from the federal agency, and repeated concerns noted by Public Works, wasn't enough for Respicio and the other six senators who voted against the bill.

It's highly irresponsible for these senators to jeopardize so much in federal funding that's used to not only improve island roads, but also provides jobs and stimulates the economy. The federal government has shown on repeated occasions that it has no problem revoking funding when the local government fails to follow proper procedures.

Sens. Rory Respicio, Tony Ada, Frank Blas Jr., Mana Silva Taijeron, Aline Yamashita, Sam Mabini and Chris Duenas apparently believe that the ability to close roads for a party is more important than the tens of millions of dollars in federal funding that is at risk. So let the island in on the big secret. What do they know that everyone else doesn't?

What the island knows is that the federal government already has said that the law violates the island's previous commitment that roads be devoted to public highway purposes. Legislators need to stop playing politics with this issue and do the responsible thing -- remove the routed roads from this law. Guam stands to be the biggest loser in this political game, and it can't afford it.